Odyssey holding its own

The Odyssey was updated significantly for 2008, including a more fuel-efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

Minivans have taken a hit along with SUVs this year as gasoline prices spiked and the economy cooled, but their falling sales might have more to do with consumers’ shift to crossover utility vehicles.

Even sales of the best-selling import-brand minivan, the Honda Odyssey, are off — down 11.5 percent for the year through August.

But the good news is that Odyssey (2009 base price $26,255 plus $670 freight) is on pace to tally more than 160,000 sales for the full year, which still makes it one of the best-selling vehicles on the market, as well as remaining the best-selling import minivan.

The Odyssey’s decent fuel economy — 17 miles per gallon city/25 highway for the 2008 EX-L model we tested ($32,210 plus $670 freight) — ranks it up there with or slightly above most of the midsize crossovers, including the new Chevrolet Traverse, whose EPA ratings are 17/24. It’s even better than that of the Honda Pilot (17/23) and the Acura MDX (15/20), two crossovers built on the same architecture as the Odyssey.

The Odyssey was updated significantly for 2008. Among the changes: new exterior styling, as well as a more fuel-efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine with the latest version of Honda’s gas-saving Variable Cylinder Management system.

New premium features were added throughout the vehicle, including a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a four-way power passenger seat, a rearview camera with display in the rearview mirror for models without the optional navigation system, and side mirrors with memory and reverse tilt-down.

Among interior upgrades were a new instrument panel and premium fabric for the seats.

Because of all the upgrades on the 2008 models, there are few changes for 2009. One of them is the addition of the power-operated tailgate to the EX-L model as standard equipment. Our 2008 tester didn’t have this convenient feature.

The “L” in the name of the EX-L model stands for leather. It comes with leather seating surfaces.

With room for up to eight people (seven in our tester, with the middle-row captain’s chairs) and lots of cargo space when not all of the seats are in use, the Odyssey makes a great family hauler.

The vehicle is targeted at female consumers, the largest group of minivan buyers. But it’s more stylish than some of those mom-mobile minivans of the past, which helps it avoid the soccer mom (or is it hockey mom?) stigma associated with minivans.

Women are the key consumers for many Honda vehicles, not just the Odyssey. Other models popular with women include the Accord and Civic sedans, Pilot and CR-V crossover utility vehicles and even the Ridgeline pickup.

As I’ve noted before, part of Honda’s appeal to women is the legendary dependability of its vehicles. Women are particularly attracted to vehicles that they can be sure will get them where they want to go, without fear of breakdowns and the prospect of expensive repairs.

Safety also ranks as a top concern for women — it’s much higher on their list of priorities than it is for most men. That’s another area where Honda is a leader.

The automaker has a “Safety for Everyone” policy, which means that important safety features are standard, rather than optional.

Standard Odyssey safety features include electronic stability control; antilock brakes with brake assist; advanced dual-stage front air bags; front side air bags; and three-row side-curtain air bags with a rollover sensor.

Additionally, the Odyssey has a front-end design that is meant to help not only the vehicle’s occupants, but also any pedestrian who might be struck by the vehicle.

The Odyssey earned the highest crash-safety rating — five stars — in front- and side-impact tests conducted by the federal government.

Styling is important to women, as well, although it’s usually on the list below dependability and safety. This newest Odyssey has a more interesting look, but there were no radical changes.

Inside, the Odyssey provides plenty of storage areas and cubbies. There is a new storage bin in the second-row PlusOne Seat (standard on EX, EX-L and Touring models).

The Odyssey’s seats have some useful innovations. Among them is the third-row 60/40 split bench “Magic Seat,” which folds completely into the floor, when not needed, to provide a completely flat cargo floor. The second-row PlusOne seat is now standard on the Touring model. It replaces the removable center console, adding the eighth seating position.

Other standard features include dual-zone air conditioning on base models and three-zone automatic climate control on EX, EX-L and Touring models; tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel; power windows/mirrors/door locks with keyless entry; and cruise control.

Options include a navigation system with voice recognition and built-in Zagat restaurant guide, and a rear DVD entertainment system with a pull-down screen.

There are two engines available. The first is an all-aluminum, 3.5-liter V-6, standard on the base LX and midlevel EX models. It’s rated at 244 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque and EPA ratings are 16 city/23 highway.

EX-L (the “L” stands for leather) and Touring models come with a 3.5-liter aluminum V-6 engine with the variable cylinder system, rated at 244 horsepower and 245 foot-pounds of torque. The same engine offered in the redesigned 2008 Accord, it automatically shuts down two or three of the engine’s cylinders to save fuel while cruising at highway speeds. The previous Odyssey also offered a cylinder-deactivation system, but it cut the engine down to three cylinders only. Honda found that the engine rarely went into three-cylinder mode; adding the four-cylinder mode to the V-6 gives it more flexibility.

It’s this system that gives the engine its higher EPA ratings, the previously mentioned 17 city/25 highway.

Also new this year, the Odyssey’s audio system now comes with an auxiliary input jack so iPods or other portable music players can be attached directly. The compact-disc player has been updated to enable it to play music files that are in the MP3 and WMA formats.

The Odyssey has 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space even with the third seat in place. But with that seat folded into the floor, cargo space expands to 91.1 cubic feet — with room for five passengers remaining in the first two rows. But to expand cargo space further, the second-row seats must be removed.

Total Odyssey interior volume is 209.8 cubic feet, more than the interiors of two of the compact Civic sedans combined.

Standard on the LX model are 16-inch wheels; EX and EX-L models get 16-inch alloy wheels; and all three have all-season tires. The Touring model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires.

Optional — and a great security feature — are Michelin PAX run-flat wheels and tires.